Benfield work hard and get a victory

27th April 2016
EBAC Northern League Division 1
Newcastle Benfield 4 
Dunston UTS 1

Dunston travelled for their final away fixture of the season to Newcastle Benfield in the EBAC Northern League Division 1. The weather was wintry with heavy snow falling 2 hours before kick-off but by 7:00 pm this had all melted and the Benfield groundsmen were working hard to fork water off the surface.
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Dunston manager had an almost full squad to choose from without the services of Dale Burrell and Alex Francis after the return of Fisher, Shaw and Luccock, who were all added to the starting line-up.
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Benfield started the game brightly and continued right through the half with the Dunston midfield and defence battling to cope with the eager Benfield side. On 4, Brayson had a shot which Connell pushed clear diving low to his left and 3 minutes later Baptiste put a shot from 20 yards over the bar. In the next period Dunston strived to compete in midfield but failed to make an impact except for the Benfield keeper Grainger having to sweep outside of his box in the gap behind his defence.
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Benfield continued to create the chances and on 24 Scorgie headed wide of the Dunston goal from a corner. On 26, Benfield almost scored but as Connell made a good save it was ruled offside. On 28, in a neat one two passing move between Luccock and Morien ended with the final pass being just too close to keeper Grainger. Again on 33, Benfield almost scored again as Pearson had to kick clear off the back post goal line. On 35 Guerin got in a good cross to the back post were Shaw headed goalwards and Grainger collected. On 40 Taylor got in a header from a Heppinstall cross which Connell collected.
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Dunston’s best effort of the half came on 402 minutes as a Liddle free kick low to Grainger’s left hand corner of the net forced Grainger to parry clear, from the resulting corner Richardson headed over the bar at the near post. In added time Benfield forced a corner as a Convery shot was deflected clear by Capewell’s header, from the resulting corner Connell had to palm clear for another corner from which a partial clearance fell to Taylor who shot the ball into the near post of the Dunston goal.

Half time score Benfield 1 Dunston 0

Dunston seemed to be pepped up by the half time break and the introduction of Smith, replacing Guerin. On 48, Dunston equalised as Morien collected a cross at the back post which he controlled and shot home low past Grainger. Benfield rallied and Scott had a shot over the bar from 20 yards out on 50 minutes, 2 minutes later Scott again went on 30 yard run before shooting straight at Connell.
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Dunston applied pressure on the Benfield goal and on 55 a Shaw cross had to be cleared for a corner, from the corner the ball came out to Shaw 18 yards out, whose shot was blocked. On 56, Taylor got in a header from a Convery cross and Connell saved. A minute later a drastic error between Connell and Capewell on the left edge of the box saw Brayson nip between them and slot a shot into the empty net off the far post, 2-1 to Benfield. Dunston replied on 59 with a Dan Smith shot from 20 yards being saved by Grainger.
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In an effort to add fresh legs Dunston Manager introduced Halliday for Shaw, but before things settled Benfield scored again as Connell misjudged a looping header by Baptiste which went in just under the cross bar on 62 , a minute later Scorgie got in a header which went just over the bar. On 73 Scott played in a low cross into the box which hit Wilkinson the referee adjudged it to be handball and Brayson duly shot home the penalty kick for 4-1 to Benfield.
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Dunston Found it hard to rally and Scott again had a strong run on the left wing but this time produced a rare poor cross, in the final 7 minutes Pearson had a shot parried by Grainger who recovered to collect as Richardson raced into the back post, from the corner Capewell put a header over the bar at the front post. In added on time Dunston’s final effort was a Pearson shot which went high over the bar. 
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Final Score: Newcastle Benfield 4 Dunston UTS 1

Dunston again failed to beat a lower league side who had put in a strong performance on a wet and in places puddled pitch, Dunston failed to impress their supporters who had turned out on a Wintry cold night and were beaten by a better side on the night, prompted by the forward runs of Brayson and Taylor and in the second half the foraging runs into the Dunston area by Scott. Dunston tried just after half time but this was just good enough on the night.

Dunston’s Man of the Match: No Dunston player excelled in this game

Newcastle Benfield: Grainger, Cornish, Heppinstall, Walker, Scorgie, Convery, Riley, Baptiste, Brayson, Walker, Scott. Subs not used Gladstone

Dunston UTS: Connell, Pearson, Liddle (Thear 65), Fisher, Wilkinson, Capewell, Guerin (Smith 45), Luccock, Richardson, Morien, Shaw (Halliday 60). Subs not used: Clark, Gilhespy

Report by T.C.

Next Home Game.
EBAC Northern League -
Dunston UTS vs Morpeth Town on Saturday 30th April 2016 3:00pm KO